Is My First Cousin My Blood Relative? What You Really Need to Know
Understanding What “Blood Relative” Actually Means
Let’s not overcomplicate it: a blood relative is someone who shares a common ancestor with you by birth, not marriage. That’s the simple definition. But sometimes, especially in big families (or when trying to figure out who you can or shouldn’t date—oops), people get confused.
So, is your first cousin your blood relative?
Yes. Absolutely. 100%. And here’s why.
How Are First Cousins Related, Exactly?
Shared grandparents = shared blood
Your first cousin is the child of your aunt or uncle (aka your parent’s sibling). That means you both share the same set of grandparents. Boom. Blood connection confirmed.
Let’s break it down:
Your dad and his sister (your aunt) are siblings → they share the same parents (your grandparents).
Your cousin is your aunt’s kid → which makes your cousin and you both grandkids of the same people.
So yeah, your cousin is your biological relative, not just someone you know from family BBQs.
Degree of relation: first cousins share 12.5% of DNA
On average, first cousins share about 12.5% of their DNA. That might sound small, but it’s significant. It’s why genetic testing companies like 23andMe or Ancestry.com can easily flag your cousin when you both spit in those little tubes.
It also means there’s enough shared genes that in some countries, cousin marriage is discouraged or regulated (although in others, it's totally fine — but that's another conversation).
Why Does It Matter if a Cousin Is a Blood Relative?
Legal and medical relevance
This question pops up in legal stuff — like inheritance rights, family immigration, or next-of-kin decisions. In many places, only blood relatives can inherit by default if there’s no will.
Then there’s the medical angle. Family history of diseases? Genetic testing? Inherited traits? Yeah, your cousin might be part of that conversation. Knowing who your blood relatives are can help paint a more accurate picture of health risks.
Social and emotional reasons
Sometimes people don’t feel close to their cousins — maybe you didn’t grow up together, or there’s drama (don’t get me started). But blood-wise? That connection’s still there.
I once met a guy who didn’t even know he had a cousin living two streets over — turns out they had the same grandmother but family rifts had split everyone up. DNA test proved it later. Wild, huh?
What About Half-Cousins, Step-Cousins, and All That?
Here’s where it gets a bit murky.
Half-cousin: Your parent and their sibling only share one parent. Still a blood relative, but you share about 6.25% DNA.
Step-cousin: Not blood-related. This is your step-aunt or uncle’s kid. You might be family in spirit, but no shared genes.
Second cousin: You share great-grandparents instead of grandparents. You still share blood, just less of it (about 3.125%).
So not all cousins are equal, genetically speaking. But your first cousin is 100% blood. No doubt.
Final Word: Yes, Your First Cousin Is a Blood Relative
If you’ve been wondering, “Is my first cousin my blood relative?” — the answer is a firm yes. You share grandparents, DNA, and potentially some quirky family traits (like that weird laugh or love for pineapple pizza).
Even if you’re not close emotionally, biologically you’re still connected. And that might matter more than you think — in ways both legal, medical, and personal.
So maybe send them a text, eh? Who knows, they might even have that old baby photo of you with spaghetti on your head.
How much height should a boy have to look attractive?
Well, fellas, worry no more, because a new study has revealed 5ft 8in is the ideal height for a man. Dating app Badoo has revealed the most right-swiped heights based on their users aged 18 to 30.
Is 172 cm good for a man?
Yes it is. Average height of male in India is 166.3 cm (i.e. 5 ft 5.5 inches) while for female it is 152.6 cm (i.e. 5 ft) approximately. So, as far as your question is concerned, aforesaid height is above average in both cases.
Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?
The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.
Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?
How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).
How tall is a average 15 year old?
Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years
| Male Teens: 13 - 20 Years) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 14 Years | 112.0 lb. (50.8 kg) | 64.5" (163.8 cm) |
| 15 Years | 123.5 lb. (56.02 kg) | 67.0" (170.1 cm) |
| 16 Years | 134.0 lb. (60.78 kg) | 68.3" (173.4 cm) |
| 17 Years | 142.0 lb. (64.41 kg) | 69.0" (175.2 cm) |
How to get taller at 18?
Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.
Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?
Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).
Can you grow between 16 and 18?
Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.
Can you grow 1 cm after 17?
Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.